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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers

The KNF (Trenton, NJ) N860-Series diaphragm vacuum pumps can sample, transfer, or evacuate air and gases. The compact pumps have structured diaphragm that optimize pneumatic performance and a long service life. N680 pumps feature multi-port valves to tolerate condensation without damage, perform oil-free transfer with an uncontaminated flow, and run quietly with low vibration.

The MIGHTY-LOK 3 from The Malish Corporation (Willoughby, OH) is a multi-purpose pad driver that can be used with pads, bonnets, diamond discs, and abrasive pucks. The driver is available in sizes ranging from 13” to 20” and includes a molded riser and universal Malish NP-9200 Tru-Fit Clutch Plate built in to the block.

Toshiba Machine (Elk Grove, IL) has developed TH-A Series rigid gears for its SCARA 6-axis robots, providing quicker acceleration/deceleration, a longer life span, and easier maintenance. With the new gears, axis one and two of the TH-A combine to provide a near 360° working area. The TH-A’s arms are constructed of aluminum casing, and span from 650mm to 1,200mm.

Wiley X (Livermore, CA) has introduced the Wiley X Hybrid Glove, with an 80/20 Nomex/Kevlar weave and an injected molded knuckle protector that can be slipped in and out in seconds to protect the hands. A goatskin rubber helps reinforce high-wear areas on the palm and underside of the fingers.

A battle for jurisdiction over chemicals in food production is ongoing between government agencies like the FDA and food manufacturers. Both groups appear to believe they are in the best position to protect public health. Despite organizational failings, the FDA is in the position to best oversee food safety.

In order to mitigate the potentially heavy regulatory changes coming down the pike, food manufacturers and chemical producers need to be the ones to uncover and disclose the effects of their products on public health.
A Washington Post article published Monday reported on the lack of information possessed by federal agencies — the FDA and EPA, specifically — about the potential health and environmental risks posed by the chemicals often found in foods and food packaging.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — A lawyer for a New Jersey man says he'll be filing a $6 million federal lawsuit over injuries his client suffered in a Connecticut power plant explosion that killed six people in February.
Attorney William Bloss says the lawsuit will be filed Tuesday morning in U.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Industrial production rose in July on the strength of U.S. manufacturing, as auto factories stayed open and businesses replaced worn-out equipment.
Output at the nation's factories, mines and utilities increased 1.0 percent last month, the Federal Reserve reported Tuesday.

BEIJING (AP) — The death toll from a massive explosion at a fireworks factory in northeast China rose Tuesday to at least 19 workers, with five still missing.
Up to 50 people were working at the fireworks factory in the Heilongjiang province city of Yichun when it was rocked by the explosion Monday, damaging nearby buildings and sparking secondary blasts, according to a statement on the local government's website.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Fourteen protesters have been arrested at the construction site of a Kansas City plant that will make parts for nuclear arms.
The Kansas City Star reports Monday's arrests came as about 75 people locked arms and marched onto the excavation site.
The $685 million Honeywell plant is being built in southern Kansas City.

WASHINGTON (AP) — General Motors is recalling nearly 250,000 crossover vehicles worldwide to inspect second-row seat belts that could be damaged and not latch.
GM says the recall affects 2009-2010 models of the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook.
Most of the recalled vehicles are in the United States but some are also in Canada, Mexico and elsewhere.

August 16, 2010
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The United Auto Workers union has decided not to go ahead with a vote on a new wage-cutting contract for a General Motors stamping plant in Indianapolis that is facing sale.
UAW Local 23 bargaining chairman Gregory Clark says members won't vote on the proposed contract, which would cut base wages from $29 per hour to $15.

August 16, 2010
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Air Products and Chemicals,Inc. said Monday it has reached an agreement with staff at the Federal Trade Commission on the terms of a consent decree for its $5.5 billion takeover of rival Airgas, Inc. The decree allows Air Products to acquire Airgas if it divests of certain assets, including Airgas's liquid bulk and onsite supply of atmospheric gases.

August 16, 2010
Tomoko A. Hosaka, AP
TOKYO (AP) — Japan lost its place as the world's number two economy to China in the second quarter as receding global growth sapped momentum and stunted a shaky recovery.
Gross domestic product grew at an annualized rate of just 0.4 percent, the government said Monday, far below the annualized 4.

August 16, 2010
David Nowak, AP
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's heat wave, drought and wildfires — which have killed dozens of people and destroyed millions of acres of wheat — are another indication that global warming is causing more weather extremes around the world, a Russian official stated.

Here is a summary of recent earnings reports for selected technology companies and what they reveal about the state of spending and the overall economy:
July 13: Intel Corp. reports its largest quarterly net income in a decade as the chipmaker benefits from a stronger computer market and more sophisticated factories.

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors Co. is likely to file paperwork next week that describes its plan to sell shares to the public, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.
The Detroit automaker had planned to file the papers on Friday but delayed the move to build distance between the filing and two major announcements it made on Thursday, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the company is not commenting publicly on the stock sale.

Imagine you’ve just started production in your newly remodeled assembly plant, and news comes that production of the existing models will be cut 30 percent and another completely different variant will need to be accommodated. Scenarios like this are a nightmare for the facilitation of lean principals, but a common occurrence in the automotive industry.

Buried inside the USDA’s Biofuels Strategic Production Report is a startling prediction from both EPA and USDA: If the Renewable Fuel Standard targets are to be met by 2022, there will be a wholesale change in U.S. crop usage.
However, doomsayers who have been predicting an inevitable conflict between food and fuel appear to have been completely off the mark.